Preparing the New Year's table can easily turn into a quest: you think you've planned everything, but at the last moment you're missing herbs, lemon, or butter. To avoid running around stores on December 31st, it's more convenient to compile a list in advance and shop according to a plan.
Below is a practical guide: a menu for 10 people, a calculation of New Year's groceries by category, and checklists. Quantities can be slightly adjusted for your company (for example, if not everyone eats fish or someone doesn't drink alcohol).
Tip: first, decide on 1–2 "main" dishes and 2–3 salads, then add appetizers and dessert. This way the menu will be balanced and the shopping predictable.
Menu for 10 People: Basic Set of Dishes
For a company of 10, it's convenient to plan like this: 2–3 salads, 2 hot dishes (or 1 hot dish + fish), 3–5 types of appetizers, a side dish, bread, drinks, and a small dessert. Then the New Year's table looks abundant but doesn't turn into a cooking marathon.
Sample menu for 10 people (universal version):
- Salads: "Olivier," "Herring Under a Fur Coat," a salad with greens and vegetables (light).
- Hot Dishes: Roasted chicken/turkey or pork; optionally — oven-baked fish.
- Side Dish: Roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes; alternatively — rice/bulgur.
- Appetizers: Cheese platter, cold cuts, red fish/caviar (depending on budget), vegetable platter, canapés/tartlets.
- Dessert: Cake or pastries + fruit.
- Drinks: Water, juice/fruit drink, tea/coffee, sparkling wine and/or wine.
Next is the New Year's grocery list in clear categories with approximate quantities.
Shopping List: New Year's Groceries Calculated for 10 People
Below is the "skeleton" shopping list for the New Year's table. It covers salads, hot dishes, appetizers, side dishes, dessert, and drinks. If you plan more dishes, add products specifically to avoid overbuying.
Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits
- Potatoes — 4–5 kg (some for salads, some for side dish).
- Carrots — 1.5–2 kg.
- Beets — 1.5–2 kg.
- Onions — 1–1.5 kg.
- Fresh cucumbers — 1.5–2 kg.
- Tomatoes — 1.5–2 kg.
- Bell peppers — 0.8–1.2 kg.
- Herbs (dill, parsley, green onions) — 5–7 bunches.
- Garlic — 2–3 heads.
- Lemons — 3–5 pcs (for fish, drinks, platters).
- Assorted fruits — 3–4 kg (mandarins 2 kg + apples/grapes/pears).
Meat, Fish, Sausages
- Whole chicken/turkey or parts — 3.5–4.5 kg (for hot dish).
- Fish (salmon/trout/cod) — 1.5–2.5 kg (if making a second hot dish or appetizer).
- Lightly salted herring — 0.8–1.2 kg (for "Herring Under a Fur Coat").
- Boiled sausage (for "Olivier") — 0.8–1.2 kg (or substitute with chicken/ham).
- Cold cuts (smoked/ham) — 0.6–1 kg.
Dairy, Eggs, Cheese
- Eggs — 20–30 pcs (salads + extra).
- Hard cheese — 0.8–1.2 kg (platter + canapés).
- Butter — 200–400 g.
- Sour cream/plain yogurt — 400–800 g (for sauces or lighter dressings).
Canned Goods, Sauces, Groceries
- Green peas — 3–4 cans (400 g each) for "Olivier."
- Corn — 1–2 cans (if making an additional salad).
- Olives — 2 cans.
- Pickled cucumbers — 1.5–2 kg (or 2–3 jars).
- Mayonnaise — 800 g – 1.2 kg (depends on number of salads).
- Mustard/horseradish — 1 jar each.
- Vegetable oil — 1 bottle.
- Vinegar/lemon juice — for marinades and dressings.
- Salt, pepper, paprika, dried garlic — as needed.
- Bread/baguettes — 3–4 pcs.
- Lavash or tartlets — 2–3 packs (for quick appetizers).
Drinks and Sweets
- Water — 6–10 L (sparkling and still).
- Juice/fruit drink — 4–6 L.
- Sparkling wine — 3–5 bottles (guideline: 0.5 bottle per person if not everyone drinks).
- Wine/spirits — depending on the company.
- Tea, coffee — 1 package each.
- Dessert (cake) — 1.5–2 kg or a set of pastries.
- Chocolate/candies — 0.8–1.5 kg.
Checklist: What to Buy for "Olivier" and "Herring Under a Fur Coat" Salads
These two salads often form the basis of the menu for 10 people. Below is a convenient checklist so you don't forget the small things.
"Olivier" (for a large bowl for 10 people)
- Potatoes — 1.5–2 kg
- Carrots — 0.5–0.7 kg
- Eggs — 10–12 pcs
- Sausage/ham or chicken — 0.8–1.2 kg
- Pickled cucumbers — 0.6–0.9 kg
- Peas — 2 cans
- Onion (optional) — 1 pc
- Mayonnaise, salt, pepper
"Herring Under a Fur Coat" (for a 10-serving dish)
- Herring — 0.8–1.2 kg
- Beets — 1–1.3 kg
- Potatoes — 0.8–1.2 kg
- Carrots — 0.4–0.6 kg
- Onions — 2–3 pcs
- Eggs (optional) — 4–6 pcs
- Mayonnaise
How to Distribute Shopping and Cooking to Avoid Exhaustion
Even the perfect shopping list won't save you if you leave everything for December 31st. Break tasks into 2–3 days: this way the New Year's table will be ready without rush, and the New Year's groceries won't be "random."
3–5 days before: Buy groceries, canned goods, drinks, sauces, spices, tartlets/lavash, sweets. These don't spoil and don't take up fridge space.
1–2 days before: Get meat/fish (or defrost), eggs, cheese, sausages, butter. On the same day, you can boil vegetables for salads and store them in their skins.
On the day of the celebration: Slicing, assembling salads, roasting the hot dish, setting the table. Vegetables and herbs are best bought as fresh as possible — then the platters will look vibrant.
How Not to Overbuy: Simple Portion Guidelines
The main reason for overspending is duplicating dishes and overly large salad volumes. For a menu for 10 people, 2–3 kg of salads total is usually enough if there are hot dishes and appetizers.
Guidelines that help maintain balance:
- Salads: 200–250 g per person total (if 2–3 types).
- Hot Dishes: 250–350 g per person (meat with side dish).
- Appetizers: 150–250 g per person (cheese/meat/vegetables/fish).
- Fruit: 250–350 g per person.
- Dessert: 120–200 g per person (especially if there is fruit and candy).
If there are many children in the company or, conversely, all adults who "love to eat," simply shift the numbers by 10–20% and leave a small reserve for bread and drinks.
Conclusion
To make the New Year's table delicious and hassle-free, start with a clear menu for 10 people and compile a shopping list by category. This way you'll see in advance what you already have at home and what needs to be bought, and you can spread the shopping over several days.
And if you're buying New Year's groceries together with family or friends, it's convenient to keep a shared list in Telegram so nothing gets duplicated. In the free mini-app Pickt (t.me/PicktBot/app), lists sync in real time — everyone marks what's been bought, and the New Year's table plan stays under control.
